You my friend, have taught me more useful information through 3 videos than I have been taught by all the trainers I've went through in the last 5 years. Where the HELL have you been all my life?
The Spanish Riding School used to recommend lunging for a year before putting weight on the horses back. I don't usually wait that long but I have with severely damaged horses. I have a saying, when you're lunging and the horse looks like something you'd like to ride, get on. That is, the horse looks, balanced and rhythmic, it stretches into the contact with the bit and keeps it's mouth closed lightly mouthing the bit so that a line of foam forms on the horse's lips.
Jess Wynne my horse used to run and run on the lunge so I thought I couldn't work him. The previous owner took him and let him run on the lunge till he stopped on his own, after that I was able to do anything and everything. He just had too much energy and needed to get craziness out himself. After a few times of letting him run and be crazy, he was more manageable and I no longer have this issue. And let me tell you, when I way he ran around crazy, I mean, he ran around CRAZY! Bucking and running, even fell on his side. I never bothered tying his head down till he remained calm and that was after a few weeks to a months time...
Hello Thewelsh Arab, Having myself two Polish Arabs from about 16 H a very good way of providing them with relaxation while under the saddle is use from time to time a bitless bridle from Dr. Cook. This bridle has teached me a great lesson as well my horses, go out in the field and let them know that you trust them. You ride of your seat so what is the purpose from a bit? Right or wrong?! Good luck and make it a great day. Christyna
Thank you very much Will for replying. She's going very well on the line w/the side reins but I have yet to see her actually reach down and stretch :( . Her mouth is very quiet with the bit. I'm considering using the Chambon for her ..I'd love to submit a video to you (I read on your site about getting a commentary) and maybe I can take some clips of her with side reins and then some with the Chambon -different days ofcourse.
You are more than welcome to submit a video for critique. Just follow the instructions on our website at: art2ride(dot)com . We look forward to seeing you and your horse soon!
Your videos have been so helpful to me as I help my 1/2 arab recover from his gadget-dominated beginnings. I am spending time on the lunge as you suggest in these videos - but an instructor I used to work with cut the donuts out of my side reins. She said it was better to have a "set box" for the horse to find. I am concerned that the lack of give in my side reins is limiting and slowing his ability to trust and stretch into contact. What do you think? Is it a big deal to have those donuts in the side reins?? Also, what do you think of the Pessoa system? If I have a loosely set Pessoa rig, could that work in place of side reins? Thanks!
As long as you are keeping the side reins correctly loose and not trying to put the horse "in a box" with them, they should be just fine. It would be better to have the donuts, but as long as you keep the side reins loose, it should be no problem. As to the Pessoa rig, it is something that I would never use or recommend. I have seen it do way more damage than good.
So I just started my horse w/side reins. Perfect position she lunges nicely.. she's been strung out for a while now & I'd like to spend more time just lunging and waiting for her to accept/seek bit contact before I start riding her again. I suspect it will take her a while. How long should my sessions be with her ? What is the average amt of time a horse will have to have time on the lunge/side reins b4 accepting? hours/days/weeks? lol
Okay, so, I understand that before having the horse stretch under saddle you need to have the horse stretch on the lunge, but my horse doesn't stretch on the lunge, he just sort of runs around, and i've tried side reins correctly, but he just runs around still, he isn't seeking any contact or stretching down at all The only time he stretches down is when he's getting tired of my crap under saddle about 30 minutes into an arena session But i'm reluctant to use that as a stretching exercise, because you said they should be able to do it on the lunge first - which I can't get him to do at all?
I would try using the Chambon, as this is a better way to go with horses that have been hollow for a long time. Also work in hand before lunging. Having said that, if you can get the horse to stretch under saddle, by all means do so. I have had many horses that for one reason or another, understood what I wanted by doing it under saddle first.
Just wondering if you have any techniques for me or tips. I'm trying to get my horse to use her hind and to be rounded and in an outline, I know it takes time but when I'm riding my arab has her head right up. I have my reins slack but not too slack but so she can put her head down and go long and low. I've been trying for a bit now but she never seems to want to put her head down, she has to have it high. She hasn't been taught do this this as we've had her from 6 months old. Also, she has an obsession, don't know what you'd call it, with trotting all the time. If I slacken my reins for her to put her head down she just goes off as fast as she can in trot. This even happens after she's done quite a big workout. Just wondering if you have any tips to get her relaxed- not trotting everywhere- and her head down and stretched out :)
Unfortunately when horses have gone their whole lives inverted in the neck and back it can be difficult to change that habit as the hollower they become the back starts hurting more and they are more uncomfortable and for horses, if they are afraid of something, like pain in the back or mouth, they run away! Which is what your horse is doing, a correctly trained horse does not speed up if the reins are relaxed unless the rider applies the leg. You need to go back to the beginning of training with your horse and teach it to lunge correctly using side reins or as might be better for a horse that has been going for inside down for a long time, use the chambon to help it to understand how to stretch.
ArttoRide I didn't know she was in pain :( Makes me feel guilty. I've stopped riding her and started lunging work but I haven't got side reins and don't really like them so could you do this without them?
Thewelsh arab A few people at my barn have had a lot of success with the rubber band neck extender. It is essentially a long stretchy draw rein that goes around the crown of the bridle, loops through the bit and attaches at the girth. It is a gentle way to encourage the horses to drop down and fix the hollowing out. We've had a couple horses fix their u-necks this way, and strengthen their backs to help reduce hollowing. They aren't very expensive either. Just make sure (as with all draw reins) that it isn't too short/too tight on the horse.
Does anybody have suggestions for a super hot TB mare who charges around, bucks, and won't even go in a nice circle connected through the lunge line? How do i get her to soften, relax, and start moving correctly?
You my friend, have taught me more useful information through 3 videos than I have been taught by all the trainers I've went through in the last 5 years. Where the HELL have you been all my life?
The Spanish Riding School used to recommend lunging for a year before putting weight on the horses back. I don't usually wait that long but I have with severely damaged horses. I have a saying, when you're lunging and the horse looks like something you'd like to ride, get on. That is, the horse looks, balanced and rhythmic, it stretches into the contact with the bit and keeps it's mouth closed lightly mouthing the bit so that a line of foam forms on the horse's lips.
i freakin love Art2Ride videos!!!
I can't stop watching your videos!
This is so helpful!
Great sensible middle-ground!
When it looks like that, it's ready to accept a rider without discomfort and with the right channels for communication established.
Jess Wynne my horse used to run and run on the lunge so I thought I couldn't work him. The previous owner took him and let him run on the lunge till he stopped on his own, after that I was able to do anything and everything. He just had too much energy and needed to get craziness out himself. After a few times of letting him run and be crazy, he was more manageable and I no longer have this issue. And let me tell you, when I way he ran around crazy, I mean, he ran around CRAZY! Bucking and running, even fell on his side. I never bothered tying his head down till he remained calm and that was after a few weeks to a months time...
Love your videos! :-)
Hello Thewelsh Arab,
Having myself two Polish Arabs from about 16 H a very good way of providing them with relaxation while under the saddle is use from time to time a bitless bridle from Dr. Cook.
This bridle has teached me a great lesson as well my horses, go out in the field and let them know that you trust them.
You ride of your seat so what is the purpose from a bit? Right or wrong?!
Good luck and make it a great day.
Christyna
what a nice horse
Perfect!!!!
Thank you very much Will for replying. She's going very well on the line w/the side reins but I have yet to see her actually reach down and stretch :( . Her mouth is very quiet with the bit. I'm considering using the Chambon for her ..I'd love to submit a video to you (I read on your site about getting a commentary) and maybe I can take some clips of her with side reins and then some with the Chambon -different days ofcourse.
You are more than welcome to submit a video for critique. Just follow the instructions on our website at: art2ride(dot)com . We look forward to seeing you and your horse soon!
Your videos have been so helpful to me as I help my 1/2 arab recover from his gadget-dominated beginnings. I am spending time on the lunge as you suggest in these videos - but an instructor I used to work with cut the donuts out of my side reins. She said it was better to have a "set box" for the horse to find. I am concerned that the lack of give in my side reins is limiting and slowing his ability to trust and stretch into contact. What do you think? Is it a big deal to have those donuts in the side reins?? Also, what do you think of the Pessoa system? If I have a loosely set Pessoa rig, could that work in place of side reins? Thanks!
As long as you are keeping the side reins correctly loose and not trying to put the horse "in a box" with them, they should be just fine. It would be better to have the donuts, but as long as you keep the side reins loose, it should be no problem. As to the Pessoa rig, it is something that I would never use or recommend. I have seen it do way more damage than good.
So I just started my horse w/side reins. Perfect position she lunges nicely.. she's been strung out for a while now & I'd like to spend more time just lunging and waiting for her to accept/seek bit contact before I start riding her again. I suspect it will take her a while. How long should my sessions be with her ? What is the average amt of time a horse will have to have time on the lunge/side reins b4 accepting? hours/days/weeks? lol
Okay, so, I understand that before having the horse stretch under saddle you need to have the horse stretch on the lunge, but my horse doesn't stretch on the lunge, he just sort of runs around, and i've tried side reins correctly, but he just runs around still, he isn't seeking any contact or stretching down at all
The only time he stretches down is when he's getting tired of my crap under saddle about 30 minutes into an arena session
But i'm reluctant to use that as a stretching exercise, because you said they should be able to do it on the lunge first - which I can't get him to do at all?
I would try using the Chambon, as this is a better way to go with horses
that have been hollow for a long time. Also work in hand before
lunging. Having said that, if you can get the horse to stretch under
saddle, by all means do so. I have had many horses that for one reason
or another, understood what I wanted by doing it under saddle first.
Just wondering if you have any techniques for me or tips.
I'm trying to get my horse to use her hind and to be rounded and in an outline, I know it takes time but when I'm riding my arab has her head right up. I have my reins slack but not too slack but so she can put her head down and go long and low. I've been trying for a bit now but she never seems to want to put her head down, she has to have it high. She hasn't been taught do this this as we've had her from 6 months old. Also, she has an obsession, don't know what you'd call it, with trotting all the time. If I slacken my reins for her to put her head down she just goes off as fast as she can in trot. This even happens after she's done quite a big workout. Just wondering if you have any tips to get her relaxed- not trotting everywhere- and her head down and stretched out :)
Unfortunately when horses have gone their whole lives inverted in the neck and back it can be difficult to change that habit as the hollower they become the back starts hurting more and they are more uncomfortable and for horses, if they are afraid of something, like pain in the back or mouth, they run away! Which is what your horse is doing, a correctly trained horse does not speed up if the reins are relaxed unless the rider applies the leg. You need to go back to the beginning of training with your horse and teach it to lunge correctly using side reins or as might be better for a horse that has been going for inside down for a long time, use the chambon to help it to understand how to stretch.
ArttoRide I didn't know she was in pain :( Makes me feel guilty. I've stopped riding her and started lunging work but I haven't got side reins and don't really like them so could you do this without them?
Thewelsh arab A few people at my barn have had a lot of success with the rubber band neck extender. It is essentially a long stretchy draw rein that goes around the crown of the bridle, loops through the bit and attaches at the girth. It is a gentle way to encourage the horses to drop down and fix the hollowing out. We've had a couple horses fix their u-necks this way, and strengthen their backs to help reduce hollowing. They aren't very expensive either. Just make sure (as with all draw reins) that it isn't too short/too tight on the horse.
Does anybody have suggestions for a super hot TB mare who charges around, bucks, and won't even go in a nice circle connected through the lunge line? How do i get her to soften, relax, and start moving correctly?
+MalloryJames1 Watch our videos on lunging to get you started in the right direction.
What a handsome boy!
:D
same